Danisa Masuku, Court Reporter
A 31-YEAR-OLD man from Nyamandlovu has appeared in court after detectives allegedly intercepted a parcel containing 2,1kg of dagga worth ZWG63 000, which had been sent from South Africa.
Mohammed Mkhiza, from Madlulani Village in Nyamandlovu, appeared yesterday before Bulawayo Regional Magistrate Mr Mark Dzira facing a charge of unlawful possession of dagga.
He was advised of his right to apply for bail at the High Court and to engage a lawyer at his own expense.
Mkhiza was remanded in custody to 15 November.
Prosecuting, Mr Joseph Rugara told the court that on 4 November at around 8pm, detectives from the Criminal Investigation Department’s Drugs and Narcotics section received information that a cross-border Brooklyn bus travelling from South Africa to Zimbabwe was carrying drugs.
Acting on the tip-off, the detectives intercepted the bus at Beitbridge Border Post shortly after 10pm and searched it.
The court heard that they allegedly recovered a stripped Shangani bag bearing the name
“Mohammed Mkhiza Bulawayo” and a cellphone number.
The bag contained 55 sachets of dagga.
The detectives reportedly joined the bus crew and escorted the parcel to Bulawayo, where Mkhiza was arrested after collecting it.
He was asked to produce a permit or licence authorising him to possess the dagga but failed to do so, leading to his arrest.
The detectives subsequently took him to CID Drugs and Narcotics, where the dagga was seized.
The drugs were later weighed at Bulawayo Main Post Office in the accused’s presence and recorded a weight of 2,1kg, with a street value of ZWG63 000.
